The only type of NVDIMM that has been mostly agreed upon is also the most common. The NVDIMM contains DRAM and Flash. The system communicates only with the DRAM, so operations happen at DRAM speed. Data is backed up to the Flash. In the event of an unexpected loss of system power, a separate power source such as a super cap provides power long enough for the data to be saved to Flash, so no data is lost.

There will be other variants that for example will allow the system to also communicate with the NVDIMM Flash, but they are still being discussed within JEDEC, and are not fully defined yet.

I am aware of about a dozen companies with NVDIMM products, many of which are currently shipping or sampling.

JEDEC is responsible for the NVDIMM specification and is currently defining multiple different types of NVDIMM. The NVDIMM SIG, within SNIA SSSI, is working with JEDEC on those definitions, and is also focused on educating the market about NVDIMM technology.

Note that the picture of the NVDIMM on slide 6 of this article was taken in the SNIA Solid State Storage Initiative (SSSI) booth at FMS. Members of the NVDIMM Special Interest Group, which was started earlier this year within SSSI, were demonstrating their products. For more information, see www.snia.org/forums/sssi/nvdimm

Thanks for the reality check. I'm guessing--just speculation-- there is not enough enterprise SSD shipments in the busienss channels for IDC to mainignfully count there their may be a few SSDs at retail. Maybe blame it on OEM qual cycles.